Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have specific documents and regulations that define Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAs). Firstly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, n.d.) relies on Regulation 8110.54A, “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness Responsibilities, Requirements, and Contents,” developed in 2010. This document focuses on the offices that are responsible for developing, reviewing, and implementing ICAs. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA, 2010) focuses on Basic Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 since this document covers airworthiness and air operations requirements. This information demonstrates that the regulations were created approximately in the same time period.
There also exist specific documents that can help create ICAs. In the FAA, the Advisory Circular that was created in 1999 performs this function. This document includes guidance and recommendations on how to prepare ICAs (Federal Aviation Administration [FAA], 1999). As for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA, 2018), there are different rulemaking tasks that establish “clear requirements and responsibilities for all parties involved in the production of ICAs, their approval and their implementation” (p. 4). The two organizations have specific regulations for creating ICAs.
The information above demonstrates that the FAA and the EASA carefully address ICAs. Even though the two organizations rely on various documents to regulate and create their ICAs, one can admit that the approach is the same. It is impossible to state that the organizations are harmonized in terms of these regulations. However, one can firmly admit that both the FAA and the EASA rely on similar concepts and regulations to promote continued airworthiness.
The identified information also demonstrates that the sphere of ICAs relies on outdated documents and regulations. This fact can reveal that the initial versions of documents are of high quality and comprehensive. However, it is still rational to state that regular updates and checking procedures are necessary for ensuring that the recommendations are still valid. Both the FAA and the EASA do not draw sufficient attention to this procedure.
B-52 is a legendary aircraft that was created in the 1950s. It has participated in numerous military operations, but the passing of time has resulted in the fact that the aircraft is aging. The most significant issue is that the engines’ resources have come to an end. A suitable decision is to replace them, and that is why Rolls-Royce North America received an order to manufacture a new slate of F130 engines (Losey, 2022). This improvement can significantly increase the aircraft’s functional characteristics and airworthiness. On the one hand, new engines can expand the plane’s range and endurance (Losey, 2022). Simultaneously, it is necessary to acknowledge the possibility of air refueling, which also positively affects the range (Dangwal, 2021). On the other hand, the improvement can boost fuel efficiency by 40%, which will make aircraft maintenance cheaper (Axe, 2021). These features demonstrate that it is possible to improve the airworthiness of an aging aircraft.
In addition to engines, a communication system has also been improved because B-52 has received a new radar. The AN/APG-79 radar is going to be repositioned upside down so that it can monitor the ground (Saballa, 2022). According to Saballa (2022), this new radar “is expected to bolster the bomber’s situational awareness, providing a better ability to identify and neutralize targets” (para. 13). Thus, it is possible to conclude that specific efforts can help upgrade and improve an aging aircraft.
References
Axe, D. (2021). The US Air Force is gradually rebuilding its B-52 bombers from the rivets out. Forbes. Web.
Dangwal, A. (2021). 100 years in service? US Air Force says B-52 bombers equipped with long-range missiles will
European Aviation Safety Agency. (2010). “What” are instructions for continued airworthiness, ICA? [PDF document]. Web.
European Aviation Safety Agency. (2018). Notice of proposed amendment [PDF document]. Web.
Federal Aviation Administration. (1999). Advisory circular [PDF document]. Web.
Federal Aviation Administration. (n.d.). 8110.54A – Instructions for continued airworthiness responsibilities, requirements, and contents document information. Web.
Losey, S. (2022). Modern design technique gives 60-year-old B-52s new lease on life. Defense News. Web.
Saballa, J. (2022). USAF B-52 bomber braces for ‘largest modification in history.’ The Defense Post. Web.